The Minnesota Timberwolves are hoping Monday night was more than just a blip on the radar - they’re hoping it was the turning point. After halting a season-worst five-game skid with a dominant 108-83 win over the Golden State Warriors, the Wolves are getting a major boost heading into Wednesday’s matchup with the Dallas Mavericks: Anthony Edwards is back.
Edwards missed Monday’s game with a nagging foot issue, and his absence was a late surprise - even to head coach Chris Finch.
“It was news to me, honestly,” Finch said after the win. “He had pain from the foot that’s been troubling him.”
Despite going through shootaround, Edwards was ultimately held out, and Finch admitted he hadn’t had a deep conversation with the performance staff at the time. But now, there’s clarity: Edwards has been upgraded to available, and the Wolves will have their star guard back on the floor as they look to build some momentum.
Timberwolves Show Their Teeth Without Edwards
What stood out in Monday’s win wasn’t just the score - it was the way Minnesota got there. With Edwards sidelined, the Wolves leaned into their identity on the defensive end, holding Golden State to just 34.7% shooting from the field. Rudy Gobert was the anchor, finishing with 15 points and 17 rebounds, a vintage performance that reminded everyone why he’s still one of the league’s premier rim protectors.
Off the bench, Bones Hyland stepped up in a big way. The guard poured in 17 points, grabbed seven boards, and dished out five assists - a stat line that speaks to his energy and versatility. It wasn’t just production, it was timely production, the kind that lifts a team when its primary scorer is out.
Naz Reid, who’s been a steady voice in the locker room, summed it up best.
“It’s a long season,” Reid said. “We have ups and downs, we haven’t had a moment where we lost four or five in a row in a long time.
But we’re not perfect and it’s how you respond. We responded the right way, and now we’ve got to carry over the same energy.”
That’s the key now: consistency. One bounce-back win is great. Turning it into a streak is where teams separate themselves.
Dallas Trying to Find Its Footing Amid Growing Pains
On the other side of Wednesday’s matchup, the Mavericks are searching for some consistency of their own. Dallas dropped a close one to the Lakers on Saturday, 116-110, in a game where they led late but couldn’t hold off a final push from LeBron James, Rui Hachimura, and Luka Dončić.
Still, there were positives. That loss came on the heels of a four-game win streak, including victories over the Knicks and Warriors - a stretch that showed what this team is capable of when things click.
“I thought the group did a great job competing,” head coach Jason Kidd said after the Lakers game. “We put ourselves in a great position to win a close game.”
But beneath the surface, things remain complicated in Dallas. The one-year anniversary of the Dončić trade is approaching, and with that comes a fresh wave of scrutiny - not to mention the added pressure of injuries to Kyrie Irving and Anthony Davis. The organization has already made changes, parting ways with GM Nico Harrison earlier this season, a move that signaled frustration with the team’s direction.
Even so, there’s no denying the spark that Dallas’ youth movement has brought. Cooper Flagg, last June’s No. 1 overall pick, continues to live up to the hype and will be one of the headliners at the upcoming Rising Stars Challenge.
Max Christie, who came over in the Dončić deal, has been on a tear - he dropped 24 points against the Lakers and has now scored 20-plus in four straight games. Meanwhile, Brandon Williams has carved out a steady role with his consistent contributions.
A Measuring Stick Game for Both Sides
With Edwards back in the mix, Wednesday’s game offers a compelling litmus test. For Minnesota, it’s a chance to see if that defensive intensity and team-wide effort can hold up when their star returns. For Dallas, it’s an opportunity to measure the progress of their young core against a Western Conference contender operating at full strength.
This isn’t just another midweek matchup. It’s two teams at different points in their journey - one trying to reassert itself as a playoff threat, the other trying to build something sustainable with a new generation of talent. And with both squads hungry for stability, don’t be surprised if this one comes down to the final few possessions.